ROB BERRY

2002 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Rob Berry excelled as an age group, high school and college swimmer. His swimming career started at the Bristol YMCA where he competed from 1976 to 1980. He spent two years in Virginia before returning to Rhode Island. He swam for the Barrington YMCA, East Bay Aquatic Club and Little Rhody Aquatic Club between 1981 and 1986 and also competed for Bristol High School.

Rob won several Rhode Island Age Group championships in the 100 yard backstroke and 200 yard individual medley. He was also New England Age Group champion in the 100 yard backstroke and selected to the New England Zone Championship team in 1983 and 1984. Rob was also Rhode Island Senior Champion in the mid to late ’80’s in the 100 yard backstroke, 200 yard backstroke, 1 00 yard freestyle and 200 yard freestyle. He established meet records in the 200 yard backstroke in both 1985 and 1986.

In 1984, 1985 and 1987, Rob was the New England Senior champion in the 200 meter backstroke and he was New England Senior champion in the 1 00 and 200 yard backstrokes in 1985. Rob was a Junior National qualifier in 1985 and 1986 in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events during the short and long course seasons. In 1986, Rob finished 12th In the 200 meter backstroke at the Junior Nationals. In 1987, Rob qualified for the Junior National meet in the 200 individual medley and both backstroke events, finishing 10th in the 200 backstroke event.  Rob was Rhode Island Swimmer of the Year in 1986.

At Bristol High School, Rob was the state’s top backstroke swimmer, garnering the All-State berth in both his junior and senior seasons. Rob continued his competitive swimming career at Clemson University where he regularly appeared in the championship finals in the backstroke events.

Rob has continued swimming in the Masters Swimming program where he has won New England and National titles, has been a Masters All-American several times and has coached numerous Masters national and world champions and record holders since 1993. He has managed aquatic facilities in New Hampshire, Colorado and Massachusetts. Rob is currently the Director of Aquatics at Harvard University and coaches the largest Masters swimming team in New England.